Biosphere 2

In Tucson Arizona, at the end of last century, an important experiment took place. People built 'Biosphere 2', a completely autonomous ecosystem in which a team tried to survive without physical interaction with the Earth's ecosystem. The experiments were not considered successful and received a bad press. Serious human errors seem to have been made in the scientific research, in the management and in the public communication. The details are not of interest to this blog.

Our greatgrandchildren will consider this experiment as one of the most important experiments of the twentieth century. I believe this type of experiments should receive a new positive impulse from international institutions. The experiment should be retried, perhaps in a different way, with a different organisation and a better public communication.

There are two very good reasons for that. First, autonomous ecosystems are an essential requirement for long duration space travel. I am convinced that mankind has to continue to explore space and will continue to do so. No matter how difficult space travel may look like, it will become necessary at some point in time.

A second reason is that we have to start building shelters on earth in case the atmosphere reaches a point of instability. With the current rate of fossil fuel consumption, the CO2 emission and the associated greenhouse effect, one can't exclude that, at some point in time, climate temperature changes amplify themselves, the Earth's ecosystem changes completely and the atmosphere ends up with a different gas composition.

Even if this may look like a pessimistic scenario and even if scientists can't predict any of this, even if some scientists still don't agree on the cause of climate change, the principle of prudence should encourage us considering this possibility. Paleontology teaches us that dramatic ecosystem changes have taken place in the Earth's history.

If our generations prove to be the cause of the climate change, we owe it to our children to start developing the preventive measures. But shouldn't we start thinking about the emergency measures as well? Do we have an emergency exit if our climate goes - completely - wrong?

In Europe

"What you can do, you also have to do." You may wonder why this simple statement seems like the most important message that I want to remember from this 800-page book about Europe in the 20th century. It belongs to the testimony of a 58 year old romanian professor who is enjoying now the freedom of many things (travelling, expression of opinion) that have been impossible most of his life.

The book "In Europe", originally written in Dutch by Geert Mak, has become so popular that you see it everywhere in the Netherlands and in Flanders. The translated book may be on its way to a similar success in the rest of Europe.

The book takes the reader on a trip to some of the most awkward places in Europe. By telling what happened in these places, the author creates a rather complete overview of all cruelties that mankind has been capable of in the 20th century. The book also shows us how recently the Eastern half of Europe got released from oppression and lies. And in many places, it is not over yet.

When you read this book, you come to the conclusion that we are not doing enough for Europe. Most people claim to be in favour of a more united Europe, but in politics and public administration, only the national interests are at stake. The reason is that the delegates are only elected by their member states of origin and do not have to take responsibility towards other member states. This will never work. Let us hope that the next generation of politicians will do something about this.